History
The Ancient Marcillien Colonies were built by Ferrumic settlers who came from the Bosconium cities. In order to take the land for the colonies the settlers had to fight a series of wars against the Cwmenne and Ahhiya natives of the Marcillish Archipelago. Ultimately, their expansion led them into conflict with a young Naghani Empire, and Naghan conquered them.

When internal divisions began to weaken the Naghani Empire the Ferrumic settlers tried to rebel against Naghan, but were crushed. Shortly thereafter a neighboring Cwmenne Queen invaded the colonies. She was extremely successful, and took the Marcillien lands as her own personal domain. She used them to take control of the rest of the Cwmenne natives and found the Old Marcillien Kingdom.

By the first half of the 200’s 5A monarchical absolutism and expansionist wars had caused a great deal of tension between the monarchs of Marcillen and their Cwmenne nobles. Royal assimilation with the Marcillien settlers also increased the tension, and civil war loomed. The Marcillien King’s 232 conquest of Naghan was the breaking point. In response to the King’s ambitions, the native nobles launched the Cwmenne Rebellion. Eventually the King and his loyal Marcillien subjects won. In the aftermath of the war the Marcillien peoples annexed and settled the land of the Cwmenne, which created the Warsellen frontier culture. For the next half milllenia Marcillen steered a steady course, growing richer and more powerful. A series of wars were fought over trade and succession, but there were no conflicts that threatened the existence of Marcillen.

Then in the 750’s 5A the Marcillish Archipelago had a sudden wave of extreme bad luck. The rulers of the peninsula at the time were well below average administrators. This would normally not be problematic, but during those years the country was hit by the Great Marcillien Drought. After more than half a decade of persistent drought and famine, the established infrastructure of the country failed. In the southwest this led to the rise of the Bangahan Movement, while in the Marcillien Kingdom this led to a coup d’etat and the establishment of the Marcillien Republic.

Ultimately, the republic proved unsuccessful, and opposition to it grew widespread. This paved the way for the return on the royal family, which led the War of Marcillien Restoration. A coalition of powers backed the escaped Queen Adelaide, who defeated the republic’s forces and seized the country. The Marcillien Kingdom has spent most of the time since then in enforcing a strong central government and in imposing Marcillien cultures on its subject peoples.

Government
The Marcillien Government is an absolute monarchy, although many of the more popular reforms of the republic such as freeing the serfs have not been repealed. Most of the government’s income comes from tariffs and public industry, with the people being taxed very little. Entrance into government is based on public examination systems, although exceptions to the exam requirements are not uncommon. The Marcillien government styles itself the greatest defender of conservatism, stability, wisdom, and beauty in Berrus.

Population
The Marcillish, Marseiyyei, and Warsellen peoples have abnormally high percents of Elves and Eladrin, both at about 16% of the population. Among the Shukhahan, Nagahani, Bangahani, and Ahhiya there are abnormally high populations of Tieflings, Eladrin, Elves, and Eladevils, all at around 11%, plus about 9% Drow. The Hwncwm peoples have somewhat larger proportions of Changelings, Goliaths, Giants, Pixies, Gnomes, Halflings, and Dryads.

The economy is mostly agricultural, but there are moves towards industrialization in the north and in l’Montaugnes de Khous. The nobility is losing importance to capitalists and an embryonic middle class, but has not been surpassed yet. The loss of prestige among Noble families has led to some degree of social friction, but not too much yet.